Improvement in shank and heel supports for boots and shoes



J. S. NELSON.

SHANK AND HEEL SUPPORTS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. No.181,965. Patented Sept.5. 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JAMES S. NELSON, OF HILLSBOROUGH, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHANK AND HEEL SUPPORTS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,965, datedSeptember 5, 1876 application filed February 29, 1876.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES S. NELSON, of Hillsborough, Montgomery county, in the State of Illinois, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Shank and Heel Supporters forBoots and Shoes, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention consists of two metallic pieces which have adjustableconnection, so

as to adapt the supporter for use with heels of varying heights. Thelower piece is preferabl y formed with a bottom flange, which passesunder the heel, and at top is provided with a prong, which is driveninto the body of the heel in order to prevent displacement of said lowerpiece. The upper piece is curved so as as to tit the side of the shoe,and is provided with an enlarged head, which supports the counter andprevents said counter being forced outwardly by the side pressure of theheel of the wearer. v

Figure 1 isa perspective view. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3shows a modification of the upper piece.

In the drawings, A is the heel, B the counter, and O the shank of thegaiter. The sup porter is formed in two pieces, D E. The upper one, D,is adjustable 011 the part 0 of the lowor one, and has an enlarged head,(1, which braces the counter of the shoe and prevents its being forcedoutwardly by the heel of the wearer. The lower piece E of the supporterhasat its upper end a prong, e, which is driven into the body of theheel, and at its lower end is provided with a bottom flange, E, whichpasses under the heel.

Screw-holes are formed in both pieces, D E, through which screws 6 passto secure the parts to the heel.

The object of the adjustmentof the pieces D E upon each other is toallow the supporter to be used on shoes, 860., having heels of varyingheights. The part c, of piece E, rests in a recess of the piece D toimpart mutual support to-the pieces.

The piece 1) may be formed with an extension, H, passing beneath theshank, as shown in Fig. 3, as in my former patent, allowed January 15,1876, so as to support the shank as well as the heel.

I claim 1 I A heel-supporter, composed of pieces D and E, madeadjustable upon each other, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

- JAMES S. NELSON.

'Witnesses:

SAMUEL KNIGHT, ROBERT BURNS.

